Machine for attaching buttons



2 Sheets--Sht 1 No Model.)

I. G. PLATT. MAGHINE FOR ATTAGHING BUTTON&

Patented Apr. .18, 1893.

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I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

I. G. PLATT. MACHINE FOR ATTAGHING BUTTONS.

No. 495,?53. Patented Apr. 18, 1893,;

STATES PATENT p OFFICE.

IRVING G. PLA'FT, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT,

MACHINEFORATTACHING BUTTONS.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,'753, dated April18, 1893.

Application filed March 1, 1889. Serial No, 301,637. (No model.)

To all whom it may concrn:

Be it known that I, IRVING G. PLATT, residing at Waterbury, in theCounty of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Machines for Attaching Buttons to Cloth; andI do declarethe following tobe a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form apart of this specification.

. My invention relates to an improvement in machines for atta'chinghollow-shanked buttons to cloth, the object being to make such machinesmore purely automatic than as heretofore constructed.

With this end in view, my invention consists in certain details ofConstruction and conbinations of parts as will be hereinafter describedand pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in vertical centralsection of the essential parts of a machine embodying my invention,showing the respective members of a button in position in it preparatoryto their assenblance together and attachment to the cloth. Fig. 2 is asimilar View showing the puncturing of the cloth and the introduction ofthe button-back, here consisting, as shown, of a hollow shank, into thepuncture. Fg. 3 is a similar view showing the expansion of the inner endof the button-,back upon the interior boss of the button head, wherebythe head and shank are secured together on opposite sides of the cloth;and,Fig. i is aview in side elevation of a press to which my improvementhas been applied.

As my improvement may be applied to a press of any approvedConstruction, and as that shown by Fig. 4: of the drawings is a well oknown form,I shall not describe the same.

In carrying out my invention I employ two dies for the respectivemembers of the button, one or both of the said dies being movable, andone being constructed to receive the button-head and the other thebutton -back. These dies may either be simple or composite in theirstructure, and the same may be said of the button-head and button-back,but whatever the particular Construction of the said button-members maybe the button-back willbe centrally perforated, and the button whencompleted will have a hollow shank. I clesign to locate within the dieadapted to receive the button-back, an independently movable punch orbodkin, and to provide means for controlling the projection of the samethrough an opening in the face of the die for the purpose of puncturingthe cloth, and the retirement of the punch or bodkin within the die topermit the face thereof to do its work. I may locate the dieco-operating with the button-back above the cloth, and the die receivingthe button-head below the same, or vice ve'sa. As herein shown thebuttonmembers are a button-head P, having aiianged stem Q, and aninwardly projecting c one R, and a button-back consistng of a hollowrivet E, the outer end of which is fianged to rest upon the cloth andform the back of the button. I would` have it understood, however, "thatI do not limit myself to a machine constructed to set buttons havingtheir members so constructed.

As herein shown, the die for the buttonback consists of a long, hollowplunger B, mounted in the press, shown by Fig. 4:, for verticalreciprocation, and having its operating face D, constructed with acentral perfov ration or opening C, and havingits lowerend beveled atopposite points, as at F F, for a purpose to be mentioned later on.

The die for the button-head is located in line with butbelow the saidplunger forming the upper die, asydescribed, and consists of acup-shaped holde' M, containing a movable head N, conformed to theexterior conformation of a button-head, supported by a spring O, andhaving a shank which passes down into the said holder M, which ismoun'ted for vertical movement in the press before 'mentioned.

The hollow plunger B, contains an automatic piercing bodkin or punch A,arranged for independent longitudinal reciprocation in it, andconstructed to be projected through the opening C in its Operating face,to punch the fabric, and to be retired to permit the said plunger to doits work in coupling the respective button-members. The punch as hereinshown is directly connected with a moving part of the press for positivereciprocation within the plunger; but I am not limited to Operating itpositively, my invention requiring only that it shall be projectecl fromIOO ,the die long enough to puncture the fabric, and then retired orallowed to retire to permit the two dies to come together to do theirwork. I may mention here, also, that whatever be the provision forcontrolling the retirement of the piercing bodkin, the mechanismprovided therefor should be allowed to retire the bodkin or permit it tobe retired so that its point will not be upset and dulled against thebutton-head or otherwise. As herein shown I have also provided themachine with a button-back holder, comprising two arms G G, pivoted attheir upper ends to a head I, which is stationary in the head of thepress, the lower ends of the said arms being constructed to support abutton-back below the Operating face of the plunger, with its fiangedend adjacent to the said face, as shown by Fig. l of the drawings.Normally these arms are sustained in their closed positions by a spring,or some equivalent thereof, but when the plunger is depressed, they areseparated for the ej ection of the buttonback carried by them, by theengagement of its bevels F F with their lower ends. I am not, however,obliged to employ this buttonback holder, for in case the 'positions ofthe dies were reversed I should not need it, or some other provision maybe made for holding the button-back in case the die'for the same islocated above the die for the buttonhead. As herein shown, also, Iemploya clothholder located between the two dies, and consisting of the arms Jand K, each having an opening L, and one or both being adapted to bemoved toward or from the other to permit the cloth to be slipped alongbetween them, and to permit them to be clamped upon it firmly, so thatit will not yield when it is operated upon by the bodkin. I am not,however, obliged to employ this cloth-holder as the cloth may be held byother means, or by hand.

It is thought that the operation of the machine will be understood fromwhat has already been said, and from the drawings, so that the detailsof its operation will not be given more than to explain that after thepunch or bodkin has been projected from the face of its die to puncturethe cloth, it is retired in time to permit the die to co-operate withthe other die in combining the two members of the button. In theparticular construction herein shown, the punch or bodkin also serves toguide the button-fastenerin its passage through the puncture made in thecloth.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exactconstruction herein shown and described, but hold myself I at liberty tomake such changes and alterations therein as fairly fall within thespirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for attaching buttons to cloth, the combination with twodies, one of which is adapted to receive a button-head and the other ofwhich is made hollowwith an opening in its Operating-face andconstructed to receive a button-back, and one or both of the said diesbeing movable; of a piercing bodkn located within the said hollow die inwhich it has independent longitudinal movement for its projectionthrough the opening in the Operating-face of the said die, and itsretirement within the die to clear the said face; and mechanismco-operating with the said bodkin and constructed and arranged tocontrol the retirement of the same within the hollow die to permit thetwo dies to come together, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for attaching buttons to cloth, the combination with twodies, one of which is adapted to receive a button-head, and the other ofwhich is made hollow and with an opening in its Operating-face andconstructed to receive a button-back, and one or both of the said diesbeing movable; of a piercing bodkin located within the said hollow diein which it has independent longitudinal movement for its projectionthrough the opening in the Operating-face of the said die, and itsretirement within the die to clear the said face; and independent powerconnections for the said bodkin, located, in part, outside of the hollowdie, for positively projecting the said bodkin through the opening inthe face of the said die, and positively withdrawing it thereinto toretire it to pernit the two dies to come together, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

y IRVIN G G. PLATT.

Witnesses:

' CHAs. B. SHUMWAY,

WM. J. DE MAURIAC.

IOO

